Upcoming WWE vs. AEW Head-To-Head Battle No Longer Happening

Backstage Update On AEW’s New Year’s Smash Dynamite Special Set For January 1

<p>As previously reported, AEW is scheduled to hold its New Year’s Smash episodes of Dynamite and Collision on Friday, January 1, 2027, and Saturday, January 2, 2027, respectively. Initially, it seemed that AEW Dynamite would go head-to-head with Friday Night SmackDown on January 1.</p>

Upcoming WWE vs. AEW Head-To-Head Battle No Longer Happening

The expected head-to-head showdown between WWE SmackDown and AEW Dynamite on New Year’s Day 2027 will no longer take place, as AEW has reportedly settled on an afternoon start time for its special New Year’s Smash episode. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio at F4WOnline.com, the January 1 episode of AEW Dynamite will air at approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern, following NCAA College Football Playoff coverage. AEW’s official websit…

AEW Dynamite To Reportedly Finish Before WWE SmackDown Starts On January 1

AEW Dynamite reportedly won’t overlap with WWE SmackDown on New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Day, AEW Dynamite will air live on a Friday night. As such, talk began of whether they’d be taking on Friday Night SmackDown, with a recent report suggesting WWE weren’t planning to change from their plan to pre-tape the show in order to broadcast directly against their main rival. Now, a new update on the situation has clarified the two promotions won’t be…